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The $637,159 that the Dodgers’ Frank McCourt must pay is split between spousal support and property fees

May 7, 2010 | 6:13
pm

The $637,159 a month that the Dodgers' Frank McCourt has been ordered to pay while his divorce case is pending consists of $225,000 in temporary spousal support to his estranged wife and $412,159 in costs associated with the seven properties in her name.

The total falls short of the $988,845 Jamie McCourt had requested. The actual spousal support is about half of what she argued she was entitled to. But Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon provided close to what she asked for to cover her property expenses. He also ordered that an eighth property — land in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — be sold and the proceeds split between the couple for their legal fees. Jamie McCourt requested about $9 million in legal fees.

He said of Frank McCourt, "All along he offered zero. At the hearing he offered $150,000. She got $500,000 more than what he offered."

One of Frank McCourt's attorneys, Marc Seltzer, released a statement taking issue with that characterization of the judge's decision: "We accept the judge's decision on temporary support. He rejected Mrs. McCourt's request for almost half a million dollars in Dodger perks, and ordered her to pay her own attorneys' fees."

The order is retroactive to Dec. 15, but Frank McCourt has until Sept. 1 to pay amounts already accrued. Between support and real estate costs since the retroactive date, Frank McCourt owes roughly $2.8 million in back support, Wasser said. Frank McCourt must start paying current support May 1.

Friday's ruling covers only one issue of contention between the divorcing McCourts. The bigger issue — over whether he alone owns the Dodgers or they both do — is set to be argued at the end of August.